Martin Guitar pays homage to its rich tradition and history with exciting and innovative new instruments at Winter NAMM 2013

Martin Guitar pays homage to its rich tradition and history with exciting and innovative new instruments at Winter NAMM 2013

Nazareth, PA (NAMM, Booth 5454, Hall B) - C. F. Martin & Co. (www.martinguitar.com) will celebrate its illustrious heritage with several outstanding new instrument series at the 2013 Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, California January 23-26. The iconic acoustic guitar-maker will unveil their new guitar series, the New Authentics. They also will be showcasing their recently introduced Retro series, both paying homage to the brand's long and storied history while showcasing its continued craftsmanship and technical innovation.

Amongst the other guitars that attendees visiting the Martin Guitar booth in Hall B at booth 5454 will also be able to preview are the stunning new D-180, in honor of the brand's 180th anniversary in 2013, and the popular Custom series, including two new Artist Custom Signature models from John Sebastian and Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole.

NEW AUTHENTICS: Martin is expanding its Authentic Series with five brand new guitars that will transport fans to a bygone Golden Era! Guitar enthusiasts will love the new enhancements and attention to detail matching the originals and the unique tonal properties. The Martin design team created a new tool to identify key features and differences to aid in better quality replications of the originals. All five models will feature historically accurate specifications such as thinner pegheads, fingerboards, center strips and bridge plates, as well as hand contoured bridges. Shell inlays are closer replicated in shape, size, dimension and location. Other standout details include hide glue construction and cloth side strips inside each body. -D-45S AUTHENTIC 1936 (14-Fret): This model features a 14-fret large body, hand-engraved tuning knobs, solid shell inlay, and Brazilian rosewood. (MSRP: $59,999) -D-28 AUTHENTIC 1931 (12-Fret): Based on the first guitar named D-28, this new model features an ebony truss rod, no decal, and a logo stamp on back of head. (MSRP: $8,499) -D-28 AUTHENTIC 1941: This model features a T-Bar truss rod and rear-ward shifted X-bracing. (MSRP: $7,999) -D-18 AUTHENTIC 1939: This model features T-Bar truss rod and rear-shifted bracing. (MSRP: $6,749) -OM-18 AUTHENTIC 1933: This model features an ebony truss rod. Silk screened-inspired decal and an unique shaded Adirondack top. (MSRP: $ 6,499)

RETRO SERIES: The new series features four models: D-18E Retro, D-45E Retro, HD-28E Retro, and OM-28E Retro. Stylistically and sonically reminiscent of the iconic classic Martin guitars of the 1930's and 40's, they feature traditional non-cutaway Martin guitars incorporating significant advancements in plugged-in sound reproduction. The series exquisitely captures a sought-after sound, melding traditional models with state-of-the-art technology, and will appeal to musicians and guitar aficionados alike. Martin designers dove back into the rich history residing in the Martin museum and chose world-class examples to use as "tone donors." These guitars include a 1942 D-45, a 1941 D-28, a 1937 D-18 and a 1934 000-28 (long-scale) on loan from Vintage Instruments. (MSRP: D-45E Retro $11,999, HD28E Retro $4,499, OM-28E Retro $4,499, D18E- Retro $3,399)

ARTIST CUSTOM SIGNATURE EDITIONS: The popular Artist Custom Signature series unveil two stunning new models from legendary artists John Sebastian and Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole: -MARTIN DSS JOHN SEBASTIAN CUSTOM SIGNATURE EDITION (14-FRET):the famed singer/songwriter and frontman for the iconic folk/rock band The Lovin' Spoonful pays tribute to his lifelong passion for roots music through his exquisite namesake dreadnought sloped shoulder guitar. Limited to just 44 instruments (for his birth year, 1944), the DSS John Sebastian offers a unique combination of premium tonewoods and appointments personally selected by Sebastian. It is comprised of superb solid tonewoods, including the scalloped 5/16-inch braces and an Adirondack spruce top, and back and sides made of rare, highly figured koa. Koa blends pleasing bass, strong midrange and crisp trebles, and this honey colored, flame figured koa looks as spectacular as it sounds. The 1930s style belly bridge is black ebony. The well-appointed details include a Style 45 blue paua pearl rosette combined with fine herringbone top purfling, rosewood bindings, and a special amber sunburst top to complement the koa back and sides. Fine black/white purfling encircle the back, which is bisected by a fine herringbone center strip. "When I first heard Martin's new CEO-6, I called Martin to ask where'd they'd been all my life," said Sebastian. "Being a longtime fan of the slope shouldered Dreadnoughts, Martin's instrument has become my primary acoustic. Just play an E chord and your socks will roll up and down!" (MSRP: $7,999) -MARTIN 1T IZ COMMEMORATIVE CUSTOM ARTIST TENOR UKELELE: Beloved in life, Hawaiian musician Israel Kamakawiwo'ole has become even more so since his death in 1997 at the too-young age of 38. His beautiful voice and elegant ukulele accompaniment - as showcased in his hit "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" - have enchanted people everywhere and helped spark a renaissance in traditional Hawaiian music. For much of his career, Israel - or IZ, as he is affectionately known - cherished a vintage Martin tenor ukulele, which he played at recording sessions and in concert. After he died, his body and his treasured uke were cremated together, and their ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean off Oahu in a ceremony attended by thousands. To honor his musical legacy, C.F. Martin & Co. introduces the Martin lT IZ Commemorative Custom Artist tenor ukulele. Inspired by Martin 1T tenor ukes from the 1940s and 1950s, the lT IZ features rare tonewoods, handsome inlays and distinctive appointments that capture the unique spirit of the man whose name it bears. The crowning glory is the headstock. East Indian rosewood provides the backdrop for beautiful inlays; "IZ" in Hawaiian koawood and a hibiscus flower (symbolic of Hawaii) in pink awabi pearl. Both inlays are nestled under the familiar gold C.F. Martin & Co. logo and are flanked by unique black geared violin-style "PegHeds®" tuners. Delivered in an embroidered protective "Next Generation" bag, each 1T IZ Commemorative Custom Artist tenor ukulele bears an interior label individually signed by Marlene Kamakawiwo'ole, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's wife, and numbered in sequence without total. (MSRP: $1,999)

Also on display at NAMM will be the company's brand new line of Tony Rice Signature Strings made with Monel. The sound engineers at Martin Guitar worked hand-in-hand with Legendary Bluegrass artist, Tony Rice, to bring back to life his favorite sound - Martin Monel Strings. Tony played Martin Monels loyally on Clarence White's 1935 D28 until they became unavailable and he has been missing them ever since. When the new formula was perfected, Tony said his old D28 sounded just like it did in the sixties - just like it should. Tony's favorite thing about Martin Monels is that they don't change the timbre of the instrument. The compound, nickel-based alloy mellows very quickly to allow the natural, woody sounds of the guitar to pour from the sound hole, unaltered, from the very first strum.

About Martin Guitar & Martin Strings C.F Martin & Co. (www.martinguitar.com) has been creating the finest instruments in the world for 180 years. It continues to innovate, introducing techniques and features that have become industry standards, including X-bracing, the 14-fret guitar and the "Dreadnought" size. One of the world's leading acoustic instrument makers, Martin guitars are hand-made by skilled craftsmen and women, who use a combination of new design and techniques along with those introduced by the company founder.

The company is also known for producing high-quality, popular acoustic guitar strings. These include the Martin SP® LIFESPAN™ line, the fastest-growing treated string in the industry, and the Martin SP line, which uses an industry leading core wire to hold tunings better.

Martin guitars and Martin strings are the instruments and strings of choice for musicians around the world, from the icons of rock, country, folk and bluegrass to those just beginning their careers. They can be seen across all segments of pop culture, from television (Glee, Psych, Raising Hope and American Idol) to the movies, on Broadway and in books, online, and gracing the covers of popular magazines on newsstands everywhere. Connect with Martin and Martin Strings on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube and via www.martinguitar.com and www.martinstrings.com.